The bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science will prepare you for a variety of exciting careers in sports medicine, personal training, and strength and conditioning coaching. You'll also be prepared for graduate study in areas such as physical therapy, athletic training, clinical exercise physiology, kinesiology, and public health.
Full Time
Rolling AdmissionBachelor of Science
120
Exercise Science is a growing health field that helps people improve and maintain their physical fitness, health and quality of life. The bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science will prepare you for a variety of exciting careers in sports medicine, personal training, and strength and conditioning coaching. You’ll also be prepared for graduate study in areas such as physical therapy, athletic training, clinical exercise physiology, kinesiology, and public health.
The Exercise Science program combines classroom, laboratory and internship experiences that will give you a comprehensive understanding of physical health, fitness and human performance. You will learn how to recognize and assess metabolic/physical, cardiovascular and pulmonary functions, and design and implement treatment plans for clients that improve their physical fitness and health.
You’ll also participate in internships designed to promote career readiness or preparation for graduate education in areas such as sports medicine, strength and conditioning, personal training and clinical research. As a UHart student, you’ll have opportunities to work with the University’s athletics teams in these internships.
After completing the B.S. in Exercise Science, you’ll be qualified to sit for exams for professional certification through several organizations listed below. The B.S. in Exercise Science is also the undergraduate pathway to the combined BS/Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree program at the University of Hartford.
The University of Hartford and Sacred Heart University offer a combined program for students with career goals in athletic training. UHart students who complete the bachelor's degree in Exercise Science with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 3.0 or better, meet pre-requisite requirements, and complete at least 10-15 hours of observation under a Certified Athletic Trainer, will automatically be accepted into the Sacred Heart MS in Athletic Training program. Those with a GPA of less than 3.0 will be reviewed and may be accepted on a space-available basis.
The B.S. in Exercise Science is a 120-credit program. A sample of courses is listed below; see the course catalog for the complete list of requirements.
A minimum overall GPA of 2.7 is required for continued enrollment and completion of the program. Students on the pre-DPT track will be required to maintain the following GPAs: 3.0 overall and in science courses by the end of semester three, 3.1 overall and in science courses by the end of semester five, 3.2 overall and in science courses by the end of semester seven. Students who do not meet these requirements will lose their direct entry into the DPT program but are able to remain in the undergraduate program to complete the B.S. in Exercise Science.
Science courses in the Exercise Science program total 32 credits and include:
Professional courses in the Exercise Science program total 45 credits and include:
General Education Requirements total 43 credits and include:
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects significant employment growth rates for fitness trainers (10%), exercise physiologists (13%), and athletic trainers (23%) through 2026.
The need for exercise science practitioners is expected to remain strong as the U.S. population ages and the desire to remain physically active continues to grow. The need for healthcare providers who specialize in geriatric care is also growing. Our program includes courses such as Exercise Prescription for Special Populations and internships with local Active Life Plan Communities, preparing students to work with this important population.
The Francis X. and Nancy Hursey Center for Advanced Engineering and Health Professions opened in Fall 2021 and provides spacious new facilities for our Exercise Science program. Take a look!
As part of the Exercise Science major, you’ll complete a career readiness internship based on your career goals. Internships may include:
After completing the B.S. in Exercise Science, you’ll be qualified for professional certification through various national associations.
Graduates of the program will have opportunities for career advancement through specialized certifications including:
First-year applications are reviewed on a rolling basis beginning in late September. Students should complete a college-prep high school curriculum that includes math and science courses. For students planning to apply to the combined BS/DPT track, you should complete high school courses in biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics with an A or B grade point average.
Questions? Contact the Office of Admission at
860.768.4296 or
admission@hartford.edu
Linda Yamamoto
Assistant Professor of Exercise Science and Program Director
860.768.4390
lyamamoto@hartford.edu
This program offers a combined BS in Exercise Science and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) degree. The BS in Exercise Science is the undergraduate pathway for direct entry into the DPT program at the University of Hartford.
The Health Sciences program prepares you for professional or graduate study in health-related fields such as occupational therapy, speech pathology, or public health. The program is also available as a minor.
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